The school education department has constituted a seven-member regulatory body to ensure that the provisions of the right to education (RTE) act are followed in all schools, including private ones.
The Right to Education Protection Authority, headed by retired high court judge Sadhan Gupta, would look into allegations such as schools taking donation during admission, holding admission tests instead of drawing lots and punishing students physically, said school education minister Bratya Basu after announcing the formation of the regulatory body.
It would also probe allegations of teachers not teaching in class and offering private tuitions, said an official of the department.
“Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed concern over implementation of the RTE clauses in the state. Hence, a watchdog has been constituted. Private schools will also be under its ambit,” said Basu.
According to officials, complaints of RTE violations can be lodged with the authority’s office, within the Calcutta District Primary School Council’s office at Kasba.
“On receiving a complaint, the regulatory body would hold hearings to find out the veracity of the allegations. In case the school is found guilty, suitable penal measure would be recommended to the board it is affiliated with,” said Bikram Sen, the principal secretary of the school education department.
“A fine of Rs 50,000 could be imposed on an errant school. The body could also recommend withdrawal of recognition. However, the recommendations are not binding on the affiliating bodies,” explained a department official.
The authority is an interim body, which would be dissolved once the state child welfare department comes up with the State Commission on Protection of Child Rights to monitor implementation of the RTE act, added Sen.